Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MOURNING-GARMENT: HEXAMETRA ALEXIS IN LAUDEM ROSAMUNDI, by ROBERT GREENE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MOURNING-GARMENT: HEXAMETRA ALEXIS IN LAUDEM ROSAMUNDI, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oft have I heard my lief coridon report on a love-day
Last Line: "for there is one, more fair than thou, belov'd of alexis""!"
Subject(s): Beauty; Goddesses & Gods; Love; Mythology


OFT have I heard my lief Coridon report on a love-day,
When bonny maids do meet with the swains in the valley by Tempe,
How bright-ey'd his Phillis was, how lovely they glancèd,
When from th' arches ebon-black flew looks as a lightning,
That set a-fire with piercing flames even hearts adamantine:
Face rose-hu'd, cherry-red, with a silver taint like a lily:
Venus' pride might abate, might abash with a blush to behold her;
Phœbus' wires compar'd to her hairs unworthy the praising;
Juno's state and Pallas' wit disgrac'd with the graces
That grac'd her whom poor Coridon did choose for a love-mate.
Ah, but had Coridon now seen the star that Alexis
Likes and loves so dear that he melts to sighs when he sees her,
Did Coridon but see those eyes, those amorous eye-lids,
From whence fly holy flames of death or life in a moment!
Ah, did he see that face, those hairs that Venus, Apollo
Bash'd to behold, and, both disgrac'd, did grieve that a creature
Should exceed in hue, compar['d] both a god and a goddess!
Ah, had he seen my sweet paramour, the saint of Alexis,
Then had he said, "Phillis, sit down surpassèd in all points,
For there is one, more fair than thou, belov'd of Alexis"!





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